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Eric Funk was born in Deer Lodge, Montana, in 1949. He studied composition with Thomas Svoboda, Sandor Veress, and with Krzysztof Penderecki. Since 1985, he has lived in Bozeman, Montana, where he was Music Director and Conductor of the Helena Symphony Orchestra and the Helena Symphonic Chorus(1994-2002). In 1994, he co-founded the Gallatin Chamber Orchestra in Bozeman. He also plays jazz and teaches in his private studio. He has taught music theory at colleges in Oregon, Washington, Texas, and Montana.
He was featured on the Charles Osgood CBS SUNDAY MORNING show, October 1998 as a result of a lead story on the front page of the New York Times Arts & Leisure section, April 14, 1998; featured on Theme & Variations, nationally syndicated NPR program (august 23-30, 2002). Currently Eric Funk teaches History of American Popular Music and Music Composition at Montana State University.
Eric Funk's catalog consists of five releases: three on the MMC label and two independent releases - all in current distribution.
MMC Music:
Four orchestral works with the Prague Radio Symphony: Symphony No. 1, the orchestral suite “Lidice,” the Cello Concerto,and the Oboe Concerto String Quartet No. 2 by the Moyzes String Quartet of Bratislava, Symphonies No. 3 and 4 with the Prague Radio Symphony and the Warsaw Philharmonic
Independent releases:
Symphony No. 5, Opus 77, "Dante Ascending" Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and the Latvian National Opera Chorus conducted by Terje Mikkelsen, The Romantic Music of Eric Funk: "Rhayader" - music for the ballet, Piano Concerto Op 71, Philip Aaberg, piano, Symphony No 2 "Montana" Latvian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Terje Mikkelsen
2006 Events:
June, 2006, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Terje Mikkelsen, conductor; British musicians recording Eric Funk's music in Riga:
Concerto for Double Bass & Orchestra, Op. 85
Concerto No 1 for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 70
Concerto No 2 for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 98
Concerto No 2 for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 96
Four Songs on Poems of Sara Teasdale (for soprano & string orchestra)
2005 Events:
Nov 27th, 2005, Frederick Frey (baritone)singing with the New Jersey City University Symphonic Wind Ensemble "TheSeasons, Op 56"
April, 2005 - "Composer-in-residence at the British and International Double Bass Forum joint, international Bass-Fest/Violin Fest where a concert of Funk's music was presented.
2004 Events:
February 29 - University of Montana, David Heyes (double bass)with String Orchestra of the Rockies
- Concerto for Double Bass, Strings, Horn, & Timpani, Op 85 (world premier)
March 30, Montana State University, Johan Jonsson (violin)with Montana State University Orchestra
- Violin Concerto, Op 70
April 18, Carnegie Hall, Belgrade & Hawthorne Children's Choirs w/New England Symphonic Ensemble
- The Seasons, Op. 56
- From the Dreams of Montana Children. Op 90
- I Love Music
April 22, Montana State University, Lawrence Gwozdz (Alto Saxophone), Montana State University Orchestra
New works include:
Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Chamber Orchestra, Op 92 - commissioned by, written for and dedicated to Lawrence Gwozdz
Concerto for Flute & Chamber Orchestra, Op 93 - commissioned by, written for and dedicated to Hubert Laws.
Recent premiered works include:
one-act solo opera for contralto and ballet troupe “Akhmatova,” based on key texts from the Russian poet’s life
the Violin Concerto, and the song cycles “Góngora” (baritone and chamber orchestra on texts by the Spanish baroque poet)
“Sequentia” (contralto and 9-person chamber ensemble on texts by Paul Celan).
Recent works include:
the massive score of "Mandelstam: a Valediction to the 20th Century,” a work in 5 movements for large chorus, two orchestras, and amplified string quartet, based on poems by the Russian poet Osip Mandelstam, which was commissioned by the Gallatin Performing Arts Center for their future grand opening.
Commissions from:
the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Portland Symphonic Choir, Northwest Repertory Dance Company, Composers’ Ensemble, Imperial Brass,Portland Ballet Company, Portland Brass Quintet, Oregon Arts Commission, Metropolitan Arts Commission, Montana Arts Council, Bozeman Symphony Orchestra, Gallatin Performing Arts Center, Recital Music of Great Britain, American Composers Forum/Continental Harmonies Project for "From the Dreams of Montana Children" to be premiered April 12, 2003 in Ennis, Montana as part of the Madison River Music Festival, and numerous individuals.
ERIC FUNK has won:
13 ASCAP Standard Awards
2001 Governor's Award for the Arts (Montana)
the Northwest Repertory Dance Company Composition Competition
the Margaret Jory Grant
the 1986 Pacific First Federal Composition Contest
three Arts Commission Fellowships.
composition fellowship at the Künstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf (Brandenburg, Germany) summer 1996
ERIC FUNK'S catalog includes over 80 works (including 25 commissions), comprising:
12 works for orchestra
15 concertos
6 ballet scores
3 operas
3 large works for chorus and orchestra
3 works for brass ensemble
Numerous chamber works for various ensembles and pieces for voice and for solo instruments
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